The felicitation ceremony held on 14th March 2026 at 3:00 PM in the Conclave Hall of Pillai Institute of Management Studies and Research (PIMSR), Panvel, marked a proud and significant occasion celebrating the impactful social contribution of MMS (Second Year) students. The event recognized the successful completion of a large-scale Social Relevance Project undertaken in collaboration with Child Rights and You, aimed at addressing the growing concern of cyber safety among school children.
As part of this initiative, the students demonstrated exceptional commitment by reaching out to more than 100 government schools across Navi Mumbai, directly impacting over 24,000 primary and secondary students. Through well-structured and engaging sessions, they created awareness on critical aspects such as safe internet usage, protection of personal data and privacy, identification of phishing threats, and prevention of cyberbullying. The approach adopted by the students was highly interactive, incorporating quizzes, presentations, real-life examples, and open discussions, which ensured that the young learners not only understood the concepts but were also able to relate them to their daily digital interactions. Each student group covered approximately 6 to 8 schools and contributed over 30 hours of dedicated fieldwork since November 2025, reflecting a strong sense of responsibility and perseverance. In addition to awareness generation, the students also supported fundraising efforts for CRY, further strengthening the social impact of the initiative.
The felicitation ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Director Dr. R. Chandran, along with CRY representative Mrs. Pallavi Yedekar, and faculty members including Dr. Betty Sibil, Dr. Krushna R Sawant, and Dr. Celina Joy, among others. The presence of these dignitaries added great value to the occasion and served as encouragement for the students. All participating students were honoured with Certificates of Appreciation, formally acknowledging their dedication, teamwork, and meaningful contribution to society. A special recognition was accorded to Group 1, which achieved the highest outreach among all teams, and was awarded a trophy as a token of excellence. The event also provided a platform for students to share their experiences, challenges, and key learnings, reflecting on their journey of engaging with diverse school environments and creating tangible social impact.
The project proved to be a transformative learning experience for the students, significantly enhancing their leadership abilities, communication skills, teamwork, and empathy. It enabled them to step beyond the classroom and apply their knowledge in real-world contexts, thereby fostering a deeper sense of social responsibility. At the same time, the initiative had a lasting impact on the school children, equipping them with essential digital safety skills such as creating strong passwords, recognizing online threats, and practicing responsible online behaviour. These learnings are expected to contribute towards reducing the vulnerability of young individuals in an increasingly digital world.
Notably, Child Rights and You acknowledged this initiative as one of the largest student-led cyber awareness campaigns in Navi Mumbai, highlighting its scale, effectiveness, and meaningful outreach. The collaboration between PIMSR and CRY stands as a powerful example of how academic institutions can integrate education with social responsibility, creating a model that not only enriches student learning but also delivers measurable impact to the community.
